DX7 Flaperons for Kinetic800

[rojack]

So I have a HobbyKing Kinetic 800 and wanted to program some nice flaps for it on my DX7, using the two existing wing servos and ailerons, and plugging each aileron servo into it's own channel on the receiver, instead of using the supplied Y-cable and a single aileron receiver channel.

I finally figured it out after an hour!

First I tried the obvious, using the wonderful built-in Flaperon feature on the DX7, but the DX7 intelligently decides that it should move each aileron channel servo in the same direction for the Flaperon function. This is wonderful except the Kinetic's aileron servos are mounted under each wing, such that sending the same signal to each servo moves the ailerons in opposite directions as it should for ailerons, but not for flaps. Fine, so reverse one servo at the DX7, right? Nope, then the ailerons don't work oppositely like they should. No way I could find to make the Flaperon function negate one servo while still preserving normal aileron function.

What to do? Finally, with 3 mixes I got it. Forget the DX7 built-in Flaperon feature. I programmed one mix to duplicate the aileron channel to the flaps channel, where I had the 2nd wing servo connected. This makes the ailerons work fine since the servos need to move in the same direction on the K800. Then I created another mix to take Aux 2 from the 3-position switch and add 30% of that to the aileron channel. Then for the 3rd mix, I did the same thing (Aux 2 on 3-pos sw) except add -30% to the flaps channel. Works great. I can make the 3-pos switch either give two levels of flaps and off, or give flaps, spoilers, and off.

Only thing I need to double check (just thought of it now) is what am I doing to the servos and physical flaps at full aileron deflection with flaps down (or spoilers up)? I need to check that I don't drive them (well one of them) too far.

Hope I didn't miss anything more obvious and easy! (I could have rewired one of the servos I suppose.)

Well, even so, it was fun figuring out the DX7 mixes.